Mayor
Town Council
Town Manager
Asst. Town Manager
Treasurer
Town Clerk
Code Enforcement
Town Planner
Public Works/Utilities
Harbor
Library
Police

Newsletter Feedback

Welcome to the official Town of Cape Charles Newsletter. This publication is available by submitting your email address to gazette@capecharles.org or by contacting the Town Office at 757-331-3259 x10.

The purpose of this electronic newsletter is to pass factual, informative and timely information to the citizens of Cape Charles and to any other individuals who have a business, property, travel or historical interest in our Town.

The information contained in this newsletter is considered to be the "official word" on the Town’s activities as noted by our Town Manager. The Cape Charles Gazette will be a news source that will report weekly events, upcoming Town activities, articles of interest to our citizens, Town projects, safety & security issues, and emergency announcements.

We hope that you will enjoy receiving the Cape Charles Gazette.

For additional information please go to the Town’s website at http://www.capecharles.org/or contact us at gazette@capecharles.org.

References to external websites are for information purposes only. The Town makes no representation as to the accuracy of information on such sites, and reference to such sites is not intended as an endorsement by the Town of any materials or opinions expressed on such sites.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Doug Smith, Code Enforcement Officer, reported that Code performed seven (7) fire inspections last week. Doug submitted the following via separate e-mail:

"I thought I would share with all of you an example of why code enforcement programs are good for the community.

Last night, at about 5:45 the CCVFD got a call to a house on the 500 Block of Washington Ave. This is a structure that was recently included in the CC Rental Inspection Program. The Rental C.O. was issued in August.

The call was because the homeowners left the house with food cooking on the stove. The resulting fire caused the smoke detectors in the structure to activate, and the resulting noise caught the attention of a neighbor who reported the fire.

The smoke detectors were one of the items checked at the time of the rental inspection!!!

Jeb Brady, CC Combination Inspector and Volunteer Fireman, stated that the fire was only moments away from flashover (when smoke, gases, oxygen, and flame combine to ignite) when the fire department arrived.

Good job to Jeb and the fire department!!!"

Code sent out twelve (12) notices to home/property owners regarding cutting their grass.

Doug reviewed the plans for the renovation of a structure on the 200 Block of Randolph Avenue and Code performed fourteen (14) Erosion & Sedimentation Control Inspections last week.

HARBOR

Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that the Harbor was inspected last week for the Virginia Clean Harbor Program. Smitty said the inspector was impressed with how much the Cape Charles Harbor has improved over the last few years. Smitty said that the Harbor was inspected on thirty (30) separate categories that contained "numerous" sub-categories. The Virginia State official who performed the inspection was impressed with the waste oil tank Smitty & company refurbished, re-painted and place on a trailer. The official said that they have never seen a mobile waste oil tank. The Town should have the results of this inspection by Tuesday, October 14, 2008.

This will be a major accomplishment for the Town & the Harbor and Smitty noted that this potential achievement was over three (3) years in the making and involved several people including Assistant Harbor Master Kent Pruitt, Kathleen Stevens (Currently in the PWD), Bill Ward, Johnnie Slayton, Harvey Wooster, Dave Fauber, Matt Pruitt, Pete Leontieff, Linwood "Buddy" Owens, Dennis Bradford, Diego Upshur and Assistant Town Manager Heather Arcos.

The Cape Charles Town Harbor is a working harbor that has processed approximately 900,000 tons of material across its docks last year. It’s also a Harbor of Refuge and caters to both watermen and sport boaters. The Harbor is one of eleven (11) harbors on the Eastern Shore and will be proud to share the Virginia Clean Harbor distinction with our friends at the Bay Creek Marina. Additional information is forthcoming.

LIBRARY

Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler Preschool Storytime was held last week and eight (8) children & their caregivers attended the event. Last week’s theme for Adopt a Shelter Animal Month - "We Love Pets".

Ann said that the class, The Spiritual Teaching of Eckhart Tolle, met on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 and eight (8) people attended the course.

Ann invites everyone to the Celebrate Books with Bite at Your Library during Teen Read Week 2008. Ann said area teens will be reading for the fun of it at the Northampton Memorial Library as the Library & Town celebrates the 11th annual Teen Read Week from Saturday, October 12 to Saturday, October 18, 2008. This year’s theme, Books with Bite, encourages teens to read a variety of books & graphic novels (from animals to vampires to cooking) just "for the fun of it". The Library will end the week with the presentation of the movie Blood & Chocolate based on the book of the same title by Annette Curtis Klause on Saturday, October 18, 2008 starting at 7:00 PM. Free popcorn & soda will be provided and door prizes will be offered. Please visit our Town Library and enjoy the programs and books that are available.

On Saturday October 18, 2008, the Library & the Cape Charles Police Department will sponsor a Safe Kids Saturday at the Library starting at 10:00 AM. The event, for children & their parents/caregivers, will feature two (2) videos (Stranger Safety & Safe from Harm), a fingerprinting station to register children, a bike registration station, books on kid safety and a display by the Eastern Shore Safe Kids Coalition featuring safety tips for parents/caregivers.

The Library will present a two (2) part writing workshop entitled Memoir Writing: Writing the Story of Your Life that will be presented by the Old Dominion University Writers in Community Programs. It will be held on Monday, October 20 and Monday, November 3, 2008. This workshop will take place in the Saint Charles Catholic Church Parish Hall from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on both dates. If you are interested in this program please contact Ann at 757-331-1300 to register.

TOWN CLERK

Libby Hume, Town Clerk, reported that the historic Town desk that was refurbished by Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, has been placed in the Town Clerk’s Office at the time of this writing.

The next Town Council Meeting is Thursday, October 9, 2008 and topics include the Cape Charles Community Trail (Application & Resolution), the Regional Water & Sewer System, the Cape Harbor Project, the Broadband Project (Grant requirements) and the designation of a Council Work Session (A day/week for regular work sessions). This is in addition to reports from the Treasurer (Paul Skolnick), Planning Commission (Tom Bonadeo), Historic review Board (Tom Bonadeo), Public Works Report (Dave Fauber), Recreation Report (Tad Taborn), Harbor (Smitty Dize) and Library (Ann Rutledge). The Town Council meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Saint Charles Catholic Church Parish Hall. For additional information please contact Libby at 757-331-3259 x10.

Mayor Dora Sullivan has scheduled a one (1) day Council Retreat for the Town’s leadership on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. The "mini-retreat" will be held in the Town Hall and the first two (2) subjects for the retreat are as follows: Mr. Paul Skolnick will make a presentation on the Bridgewater Plan. He’ll speak from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM (after opening remarks from the Mayor & Council) and Mr. Mike Sterling will make a presentation on the Conflict of Interest Acts. He’ll speak from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Additional topics are expected and will be posted as soon as they are received and approved.

RECREATION

Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that his major focus for this upcoming quarter will be on "networking" with other organizations in the Town regarding children & youth events. Tad said that the sports programs at the Park are "active" and the participation has been increasing.

He would like to extend and invitation to the public to contact him regarding volunteering for children & youth activities at the Park and upcoming events (i.e. dances, holiday events). If you have the time & desire to work with the Town’s children & youth please contact Tad at 757-331-3259 x18.

Jimmy Marvel, former Recreation Coordinator, contacted the Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, regarding an upcoming road race that will take place in the Town of Cape Charles in November 2008. Our friends & neighbors at IMPACT FITNESS are putting together a 3 Mile Race to support the Special Olympics and the race will be held in the Town. Details for this great event will be provided and the Town encourages all of the citizens to support this tremendous program. Help a Neighbor.

PUBLIC WORKS

Dave Fauber, Director of the Public Works Department, reported that he and Bob Panek, Special Consultant-Water Systems, toured two (2) compost facilities last week. The purpose of this tour was to come up with ideas, designs and concepts in order to formulate a composting facility for the Town of Cape Charles. Dave, Bob and Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, were also involved with a conference call from Stearns & Wheeler regarding the architectural design for the new Waste Water Treatment Plant.

FOR THE RECORD: The Town of Cape Charles must have an "up & operating" Waste Water Treatment Plant by January 1, 2011. This is something that the Town is well aware of but a recent newspaper article cited a 2012 date. The Town did not and will not cite any other dates for the completion of this Waste Water Treatment Plant. January 1, 2011 is the DEQ "dead line" that the Town has for the completion of this plant.

The reconstruction of the new police station within the Town Hall is underway. The police station will now be located on the first floor of the Town Hall adjacent to the Water Utility Billing Department.

Pete Leontieff, Assistant to the Public Works Director, reported the following:

Dump Fees; Accomack Landfill - $250.00, Oyster Landfill - $928.25 and Sludge - N/A.

Completed Projects: Inventory of surplus/excess materials; installation of two (2) new benches on Mason Avenue; Repair of two (2) damaged street lights.

In Progress: Swapping out Town Banners for Holiday Banners; Free mulch to Town citizens and it’s located at the Harbor (Please call Dave Fauber at 757-331-3259 x17 for additional information); Alleyways maintenance continues; repair of two (2) major water leaks (One at the Water Plant (Route 184) and one behind the police station).

Dave further reported that Thomas Stratton, Ronald Bailey, Gerald Elliot and Billy Powell attended a Leak Detection Class in Exmore, VA sponsored by the Virginia Rural Water Association. Water is one of the most precious resources we have on the Eastern Shore and the Town pledges good stewardship of this resource.

Dave said that the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for East Well II and Tower Well II "hook up" is being reviewed by the Virginia Department of Health. Bids are arriving at the Town for the expected surveying for the property involved with this project. The PWD is also conducting a Closed Circuit Television Inspection (CCTI) of all the sewer laterals on Mason Avenue. The Town recently purchased this equipment to conduct CCTI’s of our sewage system. This is another step to ensure that the Town is in compliance with the DEQ regulations that ensures the safety & health of the citizens.

Dave & Pete noted that the upcoming projects for the Town include repairing the snow fence on the Beach (Priority), the construction of a Bio-Filter at New Quarter in Bay Creek (also a priority), removal of sludge from the Polishing Pond (Waste Water Treatment Plant) and flushing the Town fire hydrants.

POLICE

Chief David Eder reported that he and the Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, met with federal authorities last week to discuss the use of several buildings located in the Town of Cape Charles that will be turned into temporary classrooms for police/fire training. This training is expected to start after January 2009. Chief Eder has the "lead" on this training and it is expected that he will contact the other departments on the Eastern Shore/lower Maryland and offer this "free" and highly informative training to them as well.

Chief Eder said that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) is preparing for the Saturday, October 18, 2008 Safe Kids Saturday event and his department will man several displays for the event.

Speeding along Route 184 (Main entrance into and out of the Town) continues and the police had a "near miss" with an SUV on Monday, October 6, 2008 with a driver who did not see a police officer exiting a tractor trailer truck and had a "close encounter" with the officer that morning. Please obey the speed limit on Route 184 and slow down when approaching police vehicles and other emergency vehicles that are stopped on the sides on the roadway. Motorists are reminded that they must yield to police and emergency vehicles and exercise caution when passing them.

ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER

The Town respectfully asks the public again to not post "Yard Sale" signs on Route 184. Over the last week the Town had to remove three (3) illegal signs from the entrance to Cape Charles. These signs, as previously noted in the Gazette, are illegal and they make the Town look "shabby & untidy". The VDOT & the Town’s PWD is making great efforts to maintain the general appearance of the Town of Cape Charles to a higher standard. Please help us maintain those efforts. No "Yard Sale" signs, "Free Kittens" signs or "Free Viagra" signs on Route 184 please.

The Town has free mulch and it’s located at the Harbor. Please see the details listed above in the Recreation & Public Works section of this Gazette.

The next Council Meeting is Thursday, October 9, 2008 and it begins at 7:00 PM at the Saint Charles Catholic Church Parish Hall.

The Town Election in May 2008 saw a turn out of 34% of all the registered voters in the Town. This was one of the lowest electoral turn outs the Town has had. We are a great Town with a wide variety of talents, experiences, education and people but we need more citizen participation and input. Contact your elected officials & Town staff and express your opinions and interests. All of the e-mail addresses & phone numbers are listed on the Town’s Web site at www.capecharles.org.

If you can not find what you are looking for please contact the Town Manager at 757-331-3259 x20.

Thank you again for the privilege and opportunity to serve this great Town and all the citizens here.

"It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways."
Buddha

Joe Vaccaro
Town Manager
Town of Cape Charles, VA
757-331-3259 x20

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

All information contained in this publication is believed to be true and correct at the time of publication.
Not responsible for typographical errors.

If you wish to discontinue receiving this newsletter, please click on the link below.
Unsubscribe

Municipal Corporation of Cape Charles
2 Plum Street
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-331-3259

Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.